Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-07
JEFF DAVIS ANSWERS GEN. WOLSE-
LEY.S
sharp Crittcisms ON the I.aster.s Re.
Elections ON the Confederate Presi.
dent in the Article ON Lee.

uectOns On the Confederate Prest.
dent in the Article ON Lee.
The Louisville Co,rier>Jo,unal to-day publishes
a letter from Jefferson Davis written In reply 10
Lord Wolseleys recent eulogy OF General X. E
Lee. Mr. Davis says: lone would reasonably sup
pose that an eminent soldier, when writing OF
another OF worldwide fame, and OF military
affairs, which, to no small extent have become
historical, would confine himself TO ascertainable
facs, Instead or adopting the style OF sensational
novelist and manufacturing accessories with the
freedom or a romancer. That such is the character
OF Gen. Wolseleys article propose in brief review
TO demonstrate. We OF the South gratefully accept
the eulogy, which could not exceed the esteem
and love and honor in which we hold the memory
OF Lee; but We, who knew him best, feel that he
ms associates reputation. The true recital OF his
deeds Is his best eulogy and that which alone ac-
cords with his moral worth"
THIS Is WHAT HURT
In Gen. Wolseleys article the following passages
occur: sit was very clear TO many at the time as
it Will be commonly acknowledged now, that the
South could only hope 10 win under the rule OF a
military dictator. IL General Washington had had
MI. Davis over him could he have accomplished
WhaV he did? Ii VIII, am sure, be news 10 many
that General Lee was given the command over all
The Confederate armies month or two only before
The nal collapse, and that the military policy OF
the South was all throughout the war dictated by
MI. Davis as president OF the Confederate Statesi
Lee had no power TO reward soldiers or promote
p"
command divisions and armies
WHAT DAVIS SAYS ABOUT 1T.
ln commenting on this Mr.. Davis shows consid-
cradle feeling, ana says: "Could anything TO the
average English mind, be more absurd than the
supposiUion that men inspired With the determi-
nation 10 stake their all in defense OF such rights
would have commenced the struggle by throwing
away their truSiy law-Shield AMI submitting en-
treiy 10 the Will OF a diCtator?-would fly 10
uSopotlSIn as a refuge from possible conqueSts?
Tie hypothetical illustration OF Gen. Washington
win Mr.. Davis over him, together with the mat
yer when immediately precedeS and follows dis
tlcty presents To the reader facts that the war
between the States was a revolutionary war, quite
like that OF the colonies against Great Britain;
that Gen Washington had dictatorial power, and
that his army Was free from any control by civil
authorities; each position is untrue, and the rep
resentatlon ineXcuSable in one appearing as
writer on Confederate affairs. AT a period OF
greatest depression the Congress or the confedera
tcn did invest Gen. Washington with eNtraordin-
arg powers; they were not, however, plenary, but
distinctly enumerated, given only for a brief
period
WAS LEE HANDICAPPED.
III General Woseley, by the latter part OF the
paragraph quoted above, means 10 state that "A
month or two only before the collapse General Lee
was given command over all our armies, dictation
OF the military policy OF the Confederacy, the
ward or soldiers and the promotion OF officers,
am one OF the many 10 whom IL would be news IL
ii were fact The general supervision and direc-
ucn OF all our armies assigned To General Lee
10y President Davis in the first year OF the war.
His office was in Richmond, and he continued I'M
charge that duty.
AFTER The battle of Seven Pines Gen Lee was or
dered TO the field and TO the Immediate command
OF the army OF Virginia, then confronting the
enemy on the Ch1ckahOmlny. The successes of our
arms in the seven days battles fulfilled my expec-
tatlonS OF Lee, and secured for him the confidence
OF the people, and the devoted love and admiration
or his army. To such commander the admins
traton OF the affairs OF an army are necessarily
absorbing. After time, Gen. Lee requested that
he should either be relieved from the immediate
command OF the army of Virginia or of the general
either, but yielded TO his reiterated request by
levng him from the general direction OF our
armies
THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
Mr.. Davis quotes the following remarks from
Gen. WolSeleys story OF the victory at Manassas
which Woseley calls Bulls Run:
The ConfederateS did not follow up their victory
at Bulls Run. rapid and daring advance would
have given them possession OF Washington, their
enemy'S capital. Political considerations at Rich
mond were allowed to outweigh the very evident
from this, their first great success Often after
ward when this attempt TO allay the angry
feelings OF the North against the act OF secession
had entirely failed, was this action OF their pollt-
| zeal rulers lamenUed by the Confederate COM
manderS-
| "When the baseless story that the President had
prevented the pursuit OF the enemy was first vent-
lated, continues Mr. Davis, seen j. T. Johnston,
the senior officer on that ned, November 10, 1S61
by letter, replied TO inquiry that the reasons for
not advancing were: the apparent freshness OF
| the United States troops at Centrey1lle, which
| checked our pursuit; the strong forces occupying
| the works near Georgetown and Alexandria; the
certainty, too, that Gen. Patterson, II needed.
| would reach Washington, With his army OF more
| than 10000, sooner than we could and the con-
dition and inadequate means of the army In
| munit1on, provisions and transportation pre-
| vented any serious thoughts or advancing against
the capital. Gen. Beauregard the second in coIn-
mand, has fuly stated, the obstacle TO pursuit,
! want OF supplies and transportation. Neither Of
them has stated that which either OF them might
that In the night after the battle inquired what II
any orders had been given for pursuit, and after
learning none had been given, and after some fur
ther inquiries dictated an order for Gen. Bonham
10 move forward with his brigade at first dawn OF
| day. Gen. Early, whom left with his command
on the extreme left, when the battle had closed,
has reported that he was instructed by me TO re
main In that position as best suited Tor pursuit,
and that he passed the night there, expecting or
derS in the morning. As these facts have all been
published and were certainly accessible TO Gen.
Wolseley, IL seems inexcuSabe that he should have
| preferred TO reyanp an exploded scandal by the
addition OF ley ret among SouthernerS for blum
der ol the administration, which it was Su1liently
| well known the administration had never made ,
| GEN. woISELEY A vULGARIAN.
| Further on in his letter MI. Davis grows very
severe ia his comments on Gen WolseleyS article,
saying: 'After the manner OF vuigarian, Gen.
Wolseley refers to the promotion OF Officers con-
stitutional function OF the president and the SEN
ate OF the Confederate States, as the acts OF Mr..
Davis. and his language implies that IL was
| power OF which Gen Lee was deprived, and that
his military policy was embarrassed by this same
| Mr.. Davis. Where Gen. Wolseley got the material
Tor his structure is unlmpOrtant IL matters not
whether it was obtained where he learned his
nomenclature or was evolved from his internal
consciousness as il is not true in the sense and
| for the purpose for which 1t Is presented"
A HOT PARTING SHOT.
In conclusion Mr.. Davis gives Gen. WolSeley this
| parting shot: 'In the comparison Instituted be-
tween the cases OF Gems Washington and Lee, and
the hypothesis OF Mr. Davis, the first impression
| made was how very puerlle, and then, unable TO
realize that British officer OF high grade could he
SO ignorant OF the many important differences in
the cases the question occurred why should he he
so perverted and sp1teful against one who does not
remember ever TO have seen him, or TO have felt
any interest in him, except when report created
the unrealized hope that he would save Gen. Chas.
Gordon from impending sacrifice"
They Want Mexico and Canada.
From the New York Herald, To day.
Mr. Robert Mooney and the sub-executive COM
mittee OF the Irving Hall democracy last night
adopted resolutions setting forth that the whole
continent should be ''within the lines OF our
Glorious Union" President Cleveland Will be re-
aueSted TO take the project into serious con-
sideration il the geneaal committee lndorSeS the
resolutions.
Setting the Children AN Example.
From the New York Tribune.
Ex-Secretary OF War Robert T. Lincoln has been